Labeling-machine.



l. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE. APPucmoN man MAY 23. |913.

1,134,876. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Il Il ll wiftmeoozo Q l. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, IsIs.

1,1 34,876. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mwwboz ew.' Jaim Tja/5PM MQ Wmm 1. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN man MAY 23. |913.

ll.34,876.v 'PatentedApr.6,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

rHE Name/S PETERb 60,. PHoo LHHO WANN/JOM u C 1. C. LARSEN.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION flu-:n MAY 23. 1913.

l l 34,876. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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JOHN C. LARSEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

, LABELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented apr. e, iai-5.

Application led May 23, 1913. Serial No. 769,483.

tion, will be automatically supplied with the label during the travel ofthe can lengthwise the machine.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a labelingmachine in which the cans are initially supplied with adhesive which ata predetermined point in the travel of the can in the machine causes anadherence between the can and desired label, the label proper beingsupplied with a suitable adhesive as it is moved toward the can engagingposition in the operation of the machine, mechanical means beingemployed to eXert the proper smoothing pressure upon the label to causethe same to adhere to the can body.

The invention in its preferred form of details will be described in thefollowing specilisation, reference being had lparticularly to theaccompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved machine. Fig. 2 isa plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation from the feeding end. Fig. 4 isan end elevation from the discharge end. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectional view through the machine. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transversesection on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged trans,- versesection on the line 7 -7 Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview of one of the grippers.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, the improvedlabeling machine comprises a main frame 1 supported upon the legs 2 orother suitable underlying structure. The 'frame comprises longitudinallyextending side plates 3 connected by end bars or plates 4. Rotatablymounted at the respective ends of the side plates 3v are sprocketwheels, the sprocket wheels 5 on one side plate constituting the feedingmeans on that side while similar sprockets 6 on the opposing side plateconstitute the can feeding means on that side. The

sprockets 5 are connected by an endless carrier chain 7 the sprocket 6being connected by similar endless sprocket chain 8. The sprocket chainsthus travel over a path which is above the direct side plate, the innerlength of travel of the respective chains providing the operativeportion of the can feedingmeans, that is to say the inner section of therespective chains in their travel about the sprocket wheels, move onparallel lines and together provide a means for gripping the ends of thecan and carrying same lengthwise the machine. At determinate intervalseach chain 7 and 8 is provided with whatl term a gripping member 9,comprising a plate 10 fixed upon a shaft 11 rotatably mounted in a.bearing 12 carried by the chain, the gear or tooth wall 13 beingarranged upon the shaft intermediate the plate and bearing.

rl`he shaft 14.- of the sprockets 5'and 6 at the forward or feed end ofthe machine eX- tends below the plate 3 being mounted on the bottom 15of the housing 16. On said shaft are arranged beveled gears 17 adaptedto mesh with beveled gears of a transversely disposed shaft 19 supportedin the uprights or legs of the frame'. On the shaft 19 is arranged asprocket 20 connected by a chain 21 with the sprocket 22 mounted uponthe shaft 23 of the motor 24 of any suitable type. By this means auniform and simultaneous movement is imparted to the chain 8 so thatcarriers 9 travel lengthwise the machine in transversely alineddisposition.

Secured upon one of the plates 3 is a receptacle 25 fora suitableadhesive` preferably glue, from which extends a pipe 26 arrangedtransversely between the adjacent sections of the respective chain andformed in its upper surface with a series of perforations 27. The pipe26 is arranged so that the can traveling lengthwise the machine passesjust above and in contact with the pipe so as to receive the materialdelivered by gravity through the perforation. A heater 28 is preferablysupported below the receptacle 25 to maintain the adhesive in propel'fluid condition.

Secured upon that plate 3 carrying the glue pot, and in advance of thelatter in the direction in which cans are traveling is arranged a pastepot 29 having a lateral paste tube 30 extending transverse the machinebelow the path of travel of the can and formed with forwardly projectingoutlets 31. lmmediately above the outlet from the pipe 30 is arranged abrush 32 for spraying the paste in a manner to be presently described.Secured below the plates 3 and immediately in advance of thepipe 30 is alabel receptacle 33 movably supported upon a spring pressed rod 34mounted in a brace 35 suitably connected in the main frame. The forwardwall o-f the receptacle 32 is preferably in the form of a tension spring36 whereby proper tension is maintained upon the labels the box withoutregard to their number or thickness. ln this label receptacle thecontact wall carried by the rod 34 acts as a follower to always pressthe labels toward the tension spring 36, and the labels are arranged onedge within this receptacle with the backs .of the labels toward theapproaching can. It will be noted that the bottom of the receptacle isdownwardly and forwardly inclined with respect to the travel of the canso that that label neXt the tension spring 36 will have its upper edgedisposed above the upper edges of the following labels. The parts are soarranged that the upper edge of the first label in the box, that is thelabel made by the traveling can, is arranged in the path of travel ofthe can, that is in position to be engaged by the can as it moveslongitudinally of the machine.

vMounted below the plate 3 carrying the paste pot preferablyfupon adepending eX- tension 37 thereof is a sprocket wheel 38 of double typeadapted to be driven by a chain 39 from the motor and in turn operatethe chain 40 extending longitudinally of the frame and some distancebeyond the paste pot coperating with and driving four sprockets 41arranged in longitudinal alinement. The sprockets 41 are mounted upontransverse shafts 42 which extend across the machine and carry brushes43 which are adapted to contact with the surface of the can, or thelabel thereon as the can advances.

The can chute 44 is arranged at the initial or feed end of the machineinto which `the cans are placed in succession and from which they aredelivered to the carriers. Mounted upon the frame below the can chute isa placing member 45 having diametrically opposed arms 46. The placingmember is driven by the sprocket chain forming the carrier so that saidmember receives the can from the chute 44 and delivers it within thehold of the opposing gripping members 9. The placing member 45 is moutedupon a shaft 50 which is provided at one end with the ratchet 51. An arm52 is loosely mounted on the shaft and carries a pawl 53 for cooperationwith the teeth of the ratchet. The arm is connected through the mediumof the rod 54 with the lever 55, the upper end of which is in the pathof the carrier shafts so that as each of the latter travels past thelever, the placing member is rotated as will be obvious. Secured uponthe frame intermediate the can chute and glue pot is a trip or toothedsection 47 designed to coperate with the pinion 13 on the shaft 11 ofthe gripping members, whereby the plate 10 is partially rotated to turnthe can partly over after delivery to the grippers and prior to itscontact with the glue feeding pipe. A plurality of such trip sections 48is arranged in the path of the pinions of the grippers adjacent thebrushes 43 there being one such section for each brush on each side ofthe machine whereby the can is turned to present successively freshsurfaces to the respectively successive brushes during the travel of thecan in order that said brushes will completely smooth and press thelabel in position. At the delivery end of the machine where the travelof the chains about the end sprockets causes separation of the grippersthe cans are delivered to the spring holding chute 4S from which theymay bc delivered to any suitable form of carrier for transportation to apoint beyond the machine.

By preference the sprockets 5 and 6 at the delivery end of the machineare not supported directly upon plates 3 but upon the cross bar 4 andthe latter is made adjustable longitudinally of the plates 3 through themedium of ordinary adjusting screw 49 whereby to properly tension thechain for effective service. rlhe plates 10 of the grippers arepreferably guided during their opera-tive travel of the machine againstbars 50 supported on the edges of the plates 3 so as to insure an evenmovement of said plates and to avoid the ordinarily incident flexiblemovement of the chain to interfere with the pressure of the grippersupon the can.

In operation, the cans delivered from the chute 44 are carried betweenthe hold by the opposing grippers of the chains and by said gripperscarried throughout the full length of the machine. Initially the can isturned through the engagement of the pinions 13 of the particulargrippers and in passing over the perforations 27 in the glue pipe 26abstracts what may be termed a narrow line of glue longitudinally of thecan. The can then passes the labels, and the contact of the line ofadhesive engaging the outermost label causes the same to adhere to thecan and to be withdrawn in the travel of the can from the labelreceptacle. In the movement of the label, in effect vertically from thelabel holder, the outer or more properlyvthe rear surface of the labelin riding over the paste feeders 31 receives a quantity of paste fromsaid feeders which is distributed over the surface of the label as thelabel is drawn upward by the brush The can continues this travel and thelabel is forced into movable contact with the can by successive actionof the brushes 48, the can through the medium of the trip sections 47being successively and progressively turned to present a fresh portionof the label to each successive brush. The travel of the can and theextent of the brush surface provided by the successive brushes, issufficient to cause the brush action upon all the outer surfaces of thecan and hence the label, -which is of course of a length less than thesurface length of the can is certain to be smoothly pressed on to thecan throughout the full length of the label. Beyond the brushes 42 thespreading of the grippers incident to the travel of the chain about thesprockets 5 and 6 releases the can and the latter falls into the chute48.

The present type of machine is designed for use with cans havingangularly related sides as square cans, though it is to be understoodthat it will be clearly effective with round cans except that in the usewith such cans it is not necessary to turn the can to apply the glueline thereto.

lll/*hat is claimed is 1. A can labeling machine including a means forfeeding the can lengthwisethe machine, means for delivering the can bodyto a quantity of adhesive, a label box arranged in the path of travel ofthe adhesive covered portion of the can and having labels arranged onend, and means for distributing paste to the surface of the label as itis drawn from the box.

2. A can labeling machine including a means for feeding the canlengthwise the machine, means for delivering the can body to a quantityof adhesive, a label box arranged in the path of travel of the adhesivecovered portion of the can and having labels arranged on end, means fordistributing paste to the surface of the label as it is drawn from thebox, and means for spreading the paste over the surface of the labelprior to the engagement of the pasteA covered label surface with thecan.

3. A can labeling machine including a means for feeding the canlengthwise the machine, means for delivering the can body to a quantityof adhesive, a label box arranged in the path of travel of the adhesivecovered portion of the can and having labels arranged on end, means fordistributing paste to the surface of the label as it is drawn from thebox, means for spreading the paste over the surface of the label priorto the engagement of the paste covered label surface with the can, andmeans for applying pressure to the outer surface of the label subsequentto the label pasting operation.

4. A can labeling machine including a means for feeding the canlengthwise the machine, means Vfor delivering the can body I to aquantity of adhesive, a label box arranged in the path of travel of theadhesive covered portion of the can and having labels arranged on end,means for distributingl paste to the surface of the label as it -isdrawn from the box, means for spreading the paste over the surface ofthe label prior to the engagement of the paste covered to a quantity ofadhesive, a label box ar-V ranged in the path of travel of the adhesivecovered portion of the can and having labels arranged on end, means 'fordistributing paste to the surface of the label as'it is drawn from thebox, means for spreading the paste over the surface of the label priorto the engagement of the paste covered label surface with the can,brushes for applying pressure to the surface of the label subsequent tothe application of the paste to the label and means for turning the canduring the travel of pressure action of the brushes thereon.

6. A can labeling machine including a means for feeding the canlengthwise rthe machine, means for delivering the can body lto aquantity of adhesive, a label box arranged in the path of travel of theadhesive covered portion of the can and having labels arranged on end,means for distributing paste to the surface of the label as'it is drawnfrom the box, means for spreading the paste over the surface yof thelabel prior to the engagement of the paste covered label surface withthe can, and a plurality of successively operating brushes to Vact uponthe label in applying same to the can.

7. A can labeling machine including a means for feeding the canlengthwise the machine, means for delivering the can body to a quantityof adhesive, a label box arranged in the path of travel of the adhesivecovered portion of the can and having labels arranged on end, means fordistributing paste to the surface of the label as it is drawn from thebox, means for spreading the paste over the surface of the label priorto the engagement of the paste covered label surface with the can, aplurality of successively operating brushes to act upon the label inapplying same to the can,land means for turning the can intermediate thesuccessive brushes.

8. A can labeling machine including a pluthe can body held between thegrippers in the different positions of said body in the turning of thegrippers.

9. A can labeling machine including endless chain carriers operative ina horizontally alined plane, grippers carried by the carriers andincluding plates, shafts secured thereto and rotatably supported by thechains, pinions carried by the shafts, means arranged at predeterminedpoints in the travel of the carriers to engage the pinions to partlyrotate the plates, and means for operating upon the can body heldbetween the grippers in the different positions of said body in theturning of the grippers.

10. A can labeling machine including endless cooperating carriers tomove the can lengthwise the machine, a glue pot supported at one side ofthe path of travel of the can and formed with outlets to engage thesurface of the can in its travel, a label box in which the labels aredisposed on edge, said label box being arranged adjacent the travel ofthe carriers, a paste pot arranged adjacent the label box and havingpaste delivery means adapted to contact with the label below theuppermost edge thereto and a brush arranged intermediate the upper edgeof the label and the paste delivery means.

11. A can labeling machine including endless coperating carriers to movethe can lengthwise the machine, a glue pot supported at one side of thepath of travel of the can and formed with outlets to engage the megevesurface of the can in its travel, a label box in which the labels aredisposed on edge, said label box being arranged adjacent the travel ofthe carriers, a paste pot arranged adjacent the label box and havingpaste delivery means adapted to contact with the label bel low theuppermost edge thereof and a brush arranged intermediate the upper edgeof the label and the paste delivery means, and labeling applying brushesarranged beyond the label box.

1:2. A can labeling machine including endless coperating carriers tomove the can lengthwise the machine, a glue pot supported at one side ofthe path of travel of the can and formed with outlets to engage thesurface of the can in its travel, a label box in which the labels aredisposed on edge said label box being arranged adjacent the travel ofthe carriers, a paste pot arranged adjacent the label box and havingpaste delivery means adapted to contact with the label below theuppermost edge thereof, a brush arranged intermediate the upper edge ofthe label and the paste delivery means, label applying brushes arrangedbeyond the label box, and can receiving chute arranged beyond thebrushes.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. LARSEN.

Witnesses:

A. W. STADELMANN. WILLIAM F. LOHMAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

